Hair washing methods

How should you wash your hair? The hair washing methods you need to know about

Washing our hair is such a natural process, that most of us don’t even think about it- we just get on with it. We simply soak our hair, apply the shampoo, rinse our head and get it ready to dry. Meanwhile, solely using a shampoo is not the best idea, especially when we have long and thin hair. There are certainly other, much better methods of washing hair. Keep reading to find these out!

Hair needs cleansing and regular nourishment

A shampoo is designed to clean our hair and scalp from dry skin, stray hairs, dirt and other impurities. Of course, it can also have several other properties: it moisturizes, soothes, stimulates hair roots etc. However, we tend to keep the shampoo on our head for far too short, in order for it to take proper effect. It’s thus necessary to use a number of different types of other valuable products: oils, conditioners, masks, balms. Basically, substances that will allow your hair to properly absorb the beneficial nutrients that are vital for your hair. Some of these can be used independently, but others should be used during hair washing – just before applying the shampoo, or after.

Hair washing methods – a review

Washing your hair with the shampoo (W)

This is the most common and most obvious method, but as already mentioned – it can be insufficient. The process is simple; water and shampoo are combined, foam is produced, and the hair is rinsed. We do not use anything else, and hair drying follows straight after. The advantage of this method is speed and quick effectiveness, that’s if we’re primarily seeking just to clean our hair. The disadvantage is that the hair does not receive any extensive dosages of nutrients – sometimes the opposite, the oils that are produced by our scalp glands are completely removed by the shampoo, and if there’s no mask or conditioner to replace the oil’s properties, then our hair can be prone to damage. Furthermore, once washing this is complete, our hair can get easily tangled and might be difficult to comb after it’s dried.

Washing hair with a shampoo and conditioner (WC)

The same as describe above, however, a conditioner is applied to the hair after shampooing. If we are in a hurry, we can even apply a conditioner without rinsing. If we have a bit more time, we can apply a conditioner or a mask, keeping it on our hair for a while, and only then follow up with rinsing. After using a conditioner, hair will certainly be kept in a better condition, although they may suffer during washing, because they weren’t protected immediately before it.

Washing with a conditioner and shampoo (CW)

It’s the reverse method to the one mentioned above – we start with a conditioner, rinse and only then apply a shampoo, and rinse again. This way, hair is protected during washing, it’s also nourished and unburdened after drying. The method is quite easy and fast, and people often opt for the (WC) pattern rather than this one. But whichever is more beneficial depends on the person, it’s also an issue of preference. This solution may still be insufficient for the owners of very dry or damaged hair.

Conditioner – shampoo wash – conditioner (CWC)

is a method that combines two techniques of hair washing from above (CW + WC). This way of action is highly recommended by hair enthusiasts who care for their hair intensively. First of all, a conditioner is applied to the wet hair strands (though this can be often replaced by homemade masks or oils). Either way, this conditioner/mask/oil should be kept on the hair for a while before any other step is undertaken – in more extreme cases, you can even keep it on over night, and then proceed with washing. After shampooing, we again use the conditioner, but a different kind, and keep it on for shorter period. Doing it this way can yield many positive results e.g. smooth and shiny hair that feels volumized and great to touch, but it’s easy to overdo this method if we do it regularly and use excessive amounts of conditioner. So, this method isn’t really recommended for everyday hair-washing, because a lot of side effects may emerge e.g. oily hair or hair getting used to the conditioner, making it lose its original effect.

So, to finalise – such (M / MO / OMO) hair washing methods are very beneficial for our hair and can really make an impact when it comes to cleaning and nourishing. Just remember that you should adjust, and stick to a method that will best suit your type of hair. If you’re struggling which option to go for, consult a hairdresser, who will be hopefully able to advise you regarding the appropriate hair washing methods.